HEAVY FALL OF SNOW

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 17 June 1933, Page 4

HEAVY FALL OF SNOW

SLOPES OF EGMONT COVERED REPORTS FROM THREE HOUSES Heavy snow fell on Mount Elgmont yesterday as well as on some of the higher country at the edge of the reserve. Alt Dawson Falls it commenced to snow early yesterday morning on a solid foundation of ice, which, stiu lay on the southera slopes of Fantham’is Peak down as far as Dawson Falls Hostel. The fall continued at intervals throughout the day and last night and! was particularly heavy above the hostel. When inquiries were made by a “Haw-era Stan-” reporter tins morning ijt was ascertained that the Wejatlxer on the mountain was * fairly cold and much ■ mist” and! the prospect® for to-morrow were indefinite. There were six inches of snow at the hostel. In the bush a beautiful sight was (presented. The trees were covered with snow and on the southern side of each tree, which, had been exposed to the bitterly cold wind of the past two days, long icicles in all imanper of strange formations hung from the branches. In the .undergrowth the spreading fronds of the ferns were patl--in snow or encased jn ice. The cold had been so intense at the hostel that several taps on the outside had burst. The track from the reserve entrance to the hostel was stated to be in excellent order. On the northern slopes of Ejgmont the fail commenced) on Thursday night but was only light. However, yesterday morning it increased in intensity so that, before noon, it lay to a depth of four inches around the North Egmont Hostel. The snow is haa-d and dry so that, if weather conditions continue as at present, the mountain should be a paradise for ski parties, and for the more humble (snow-bailers during the week-end. . The track at North Egmont is still easily negotiable by cars, being covered for about half the distance to the gate. Early on Thursday morning a slight fall of snow was experienced at the hostel, but the weather then cleaned and the fall did not resume until eaifly yesterday morning. It is anticipated that the present fall will continue for some little time.

Similar ooniditfcionis are reported at the Stratford House. The snow is well down the tra'dk and falling, heavily. It eonun'enoed at about 11 o’clock on Thursday night stated the custodian, and it had Ibeen (snowing almost without intermission for the last 24 hours, with the prospect of further falls today. At Stratford itself there was a piercing wind and rain squalls punctuated with sunshine during the day. Townships at the foot of the mountain are alll feeling the effects of the fall a.nd in New Plymouth sleet was noticeable for quite a period during the morning. At the New Plymouth Breakwater, right on the sea shore, the fall! developed into light snow as it did in some of the higher levels close.hv the town. At Hawara yesterday the weather was bitterly cold with a strong south - aiily wind and heavy showers of rain. Tn a sheltered .locality facing north a minimum temperature of 41 degrees was reached, but it was much colder in exposed places.